An Improved Method of DNA Extraction from the Shell of the Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas

Abstract

We earlier developed a method to extract DNA from in vivo-sampled mantle tissue of the bivalve Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) for molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding. However, mortality was too high when using this method. In the current study, a more efficient and safer method of extracting DNA from the oyster shell was developed, based on the improved phenol-chloroform DNA extraction method. Both nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA were successfully extracted from the oyster shell, and mortality was 0%. These results illustrate the safety of extracting DNA from the bivalve shell. In addition, because DNA is a cellular component, the results provide molecular evidence that cells are likely involved in shell formation.